Sour Beer
Sour has an intentionally acidic, tart or sour taste. The most common sour beer styles are Belgian: lambics, gueuze and Flanders red ale.
At one time, all beers were sour to some degree. As pure yeast cultures were not available, the starter used from one batch to another usually contained some wild yeast and bacteria. Unlike modern brewing, which is done in a sterile environment to guard against the intrusion of wild yeast, sour beers are made by intentionally allowing wild yeast strains or bacteria into the brew. Traditionally, Belgian brewers allowed wild yeast to enter the brew naturally through the barrels or during the cooling of the wort in a Koelschip open to the outside air – an unpredictable process that many modern brewers avoid.
The most common agents used to intentionally sour beer are Lactobacillus, Brettanomyces and Pediococcus. Another method for achieving a tart flavor is adding fruit during the aging process to spur a secondary fermentation or contribute microbes present on the fruit's skin.
Because of the uncertainty involved in using wild yeast, the sour beer brewing process is extremely unpredictable. The beer takes months to ferment and can take years to mature.
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Two Metre TallNo reviews$32.00
Blood rushing, on stage, Two Metre Tall loudly proclaimed "it's only grapes"! A farmer referring to the dominance of wine as the universal beverage...
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Boatrocker Brewers & Distillers$29.99
We're well known for our interpretation of the classic Flanders Red style sour ale. So much so that we have a House Red, which is a solera style re...
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8 Wired Brewing Co.$42.99
A very special "Imperial Geuze" inspired blend of selected barrels from our library. One third each of spontaneously fermented 8, 6 and 4 year old ...
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Brooklyn Brewery$45.99
Key lime gose aged in mezcal barrels. Waves of tropical flavour roll in with notes of coconut, pineapple, and all things that deserve a tiny umbrel...
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The Rare Barrel$27.50
Cherries paired with golden sour beers stand the test of time, which is one reason why we wanted to blend Stone Age Love, our golden sour beer aged...
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Dollar Bill BrewingNo reviews$42.00
Sour and complex. Two year barrel-aged pseudo lambic rested on sour cherries. Hints of brettanomyces and deep lactic acidity intertwined with malic...
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Hop Nation$15.99
This beer is a blend of three sour blonde ales, two of which were aged for two years in French oak puncheons, the third a more recent batch, blende...
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Deeds BrewingNo reviewsOriginal price $40.00Current price $24.00
A three barrel blend of mixed culture beer that was aged in French oak for 12 months, and then macerated on blueberries for 7 months at a rate of 5...
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8 Wired Brewing Co.$24.99
This complex brown sour beer has been brewed in the traditional style of West Flanders, Belgium. Aged in large oak foudres (vats) for 18 Months, a ...
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Dollar Bill Brewing$46.99
2022 Gold Teeth. A blend of spontaneously and wild fermented barrel aged ale, rested on bio-dynamic yellow Clingstone peaches. Elements of white ch...
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Dollar Bill Brewing$17.99
An intriguing balance between smoke and sour. This historic beer is light bodied and refreshing, infused with oak smoked wheat and pilsner malt. Fe...
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Boatrocker Brewers & Distillers$29.99
We're well known for our interpretation of the classic Flanders Red style sour ale. So much so that we have a House Red, which is a solera style re...
View full details$29.99Sold out -
Wolf Of The Willows$19.99
A decadent whisky barrel aged and fruited nitro cream ale. Taking inspiration from the classic whisky sour cocktail, expect sour lemon up front wit...
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La Sirene Brewing$28.99
Barrel 064 was part of our cerise barrel stocks. A rustic wild ale that's been infused with whole European cherries since 2016. his lightly fruited...
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Future Mountain Brewing And Blending$27.99
This year we decided to use some beautiful Rayners Orchard's blood plums, perfectly paired with our barrel aged red sour beer from our oak cellar. ...
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